Steering column support

ABSTRACT

A steering column support for mounting a steering column in a vehicle comprises a mounting plate having a first surface for engaging the vehicle and a channel for receiving the steering column located on a side opposite from the first surface. The mounting plate is connectable in any one of a plurality of positions along an axis of the steering column. The mounting plate further includes slots located on opposite sides of the channel for receiving fasteners for connecting the mounting plate to the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a steering column, and morespecifically to a support for mounting a steering column in a vehicle.

Known steering column supports are designed for mounting a specificsteering column in a specific vehicle. Therefore, for each vehicle andeach steering column a new support must be designed. Accordingly, theneed exists for a steering column support adapted to mount a number ofdifferent steering columns into a number of different vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A steering column support for mounting a steering column in a vehiclecomprises a mounting plate having first surface means for engaging thevehicle and second surface means for defining a channel for receivingthe steering column. The first and second surface means are located onopposite sides of the mounting plate. The mounting plate is connectablein any one of a plurality of positions along an axis of the steeringcolumn. The mounting plate further includes slots located on oppositesides of the channel for receiving fasteners for connecting the mountingplate to the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present invention will becomeapparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the followingdescription of the present invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a steering column and support of thepresent invention for mounting the steering column in a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged pictorial view of a mounting plate of the steeringcolumn support of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mounting plate of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention comprises a steering column support 10 formounting a steering column 12 in a vehicle. The steering column 12includes an input shaft 14 to which a vehicle steering wheel (not shown)is attached. The steering column 12 can be telescope to effect axialadjustment of the steering wheel. The input shaft 14 is pivotal about anaxis A relative to the steering column 12 to effect angular adjustmentof the steering wheel.

A releasable telescope locking mechanism 16 locks the steering column inany one of a plurality of telescope positions. A releasable tilt lockingmechanism 18 locks the input shaft 14 in any one of an infinite numberof pivot positions. The telescope locking mechanism 16 and the tiltlocking mechanism 18 may be of any known construction and, therefore,will not be described in detail.

A handle 22 and actuator member 24, connected to the handle, arepivotally mounted to a bracket 26 by a pin 28. A torsion spring 32extends around the actuator member 24 to bias the handle 22 and theactuator member to an initial position in which the telescope lockingmechanism 16 and the tilt locking mechanism 18 are locked. Upon pivotingthe handle 22 and the actuator member 24 in one direction, the actuatormember moves a telescope locking member 34 to release the telescopelocking mechanism 16. Upon pivoting the handle 22 and the actuatormember 24 in another direction, the actuator member unlocks the tiltlocking mechanism 18.

The input shaft 14 extends into an upper housing 40. The upper housing40 is pivotally connected to the bracket 26 which is connected to ajacket tube circumscribing steering column members for transmittingrotation of the input shaft 14 to a steering gear to effect vehiclesteering. The upper housing 40 is pivotable about the axis A relative tothe bracket 26 and the jacket tube. Therefore, the upper housing 40pivots along with the input shaft 14 relative to the bracket 26 and thesteering column members.

The steering column 12 includes a tubular support member 42 which isconnectable to the frame of the vehicle by the steering column support10. The steering column support 10 includes a pair of identical mountingplates 50 and 52. The mounting plates 50 and 52 are connectable to thesupport member 42 in any one of a plurality of positions along an axialextent of the support member. The plates 50 and 52 are preferably weldedto the tubular support 42 to fixedly connect the plates to the tubularsupport.

Since the mounting plates 50 and 52 are identical, only one of themounting plates 50 will be described in detail. The mounting plate 50(FIGS. 2 and 3) has a first surface 54 which is engageable with thevehicle frame. The plate 50 includes a part cylindrical channel 56 forreceiving the support member 42. A pair of slots 58 and 60 are locatedon opposite sides of the channel 56 and extend transverse to the axis ofthe steering column 12 when the plate 50 is connected to the steeringcolumn. The slots 58 and 60 receive fasteners for connecting thesteering column 12 and mounting plate 50 to the vehicle frame. The slots58 and 60 are aligned with openings in the vehicle so that the fastenersare positioned at any location along the longitudinal extent of theslots. Accordingly, the plates 50 and 52 have a plurality of positionsalong the slots in which the plates can be connected to the vehicle.

The mounting plate 50 also includes a pair of circular openings 62 and64 located on opposite sides of the channel 56. The openings 62 and 64are axially offset from the slots 58 and 60 for receiving otherfasteners for connecting the mounting plate 50 to the vehicle frame. Apair of gussets 66 and 68 are located on opposite sides of the channel56. The gussets 66 and 68 help support the channel 56.

The plates 50 and 52 may be connected to the support member 42 in anyone of a plurality of positions along the axis of the steering column12. Accordingly, the plates 50 and 52 may be connected to the supportmember 42 in positions that align with openings in a vehicle frame forconnecting the steering column 12 to the vehicle. The openings in thevehicle for receiving fasteners need only align with any portion of theslots 58 and 60 or with the circular openings 62 and 64. Furthermore,any number of mounting plates may be used to connect the steering column12 to the vehicle. Also, the mounting plates can be used to connectfixed steering columns, tilt only steering columns, and telescope onlysteering columns to a vehicle.

From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the artwill perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Suchimprovements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art areintended to be covered by the appended claims.

Having described the invention, the following is claimed:
 1. A steeringcolumn support for mounting a steering column in a vehicle comprising afirst mounting plate having first surface means for engaging thevehicle, second surface means for defining a channel for receiving thesteering column, said first and second surface means being located onopposite sides of said first mounting plate, said first mounting platebeing connectable in any one of a plurality of positions along an axisof the steering column, said first mounting plate further includingslots located on opposite sides of said channel for receiving fastenersfor connecting said first mounting plate to the vehicle.
 2. A steeringcolumn support as set forth in claim 1 further including a secondmounting plate having first surface means for engaging the vehicle,second surface means for defining a channel for receiving the steeringcolumn, said first and second surface means being located on oppositesides of said second mounting plate, said second mounting plate beingconnectable in any one of a plurality of positions along the axis of thesteering column, said second mounting plate further including slotslocated on opposite sides of said channel for receiving fasteners forconnecting said second mounting plate to the vehicle.
 3. A steeringcolumn support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slots extendtransverse to the axis of the steering column when said first mountingplate is connected to the steering column.
 4. A steering column supportas set forth in claim 1 wherein said first mounting plate includesgussets located on opposite sides of said channel.
 5. A steering columnsupport as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first mounting plateincludes circular openings located on opposite sides of said channel forreceiving fasteners to connect said mounting plate to the vehicle.
 6. Asteering column support as set forth in claim 5 wherein said openingsare axially offset from said slots in said mounting plate.
 7. A steeringcolumn support for mounting a steering column in a vehicle comprisingfirst and second mounting plates connectable with the steering column,each of said first and second mounting plates being connectable with thesteering column in any one of a plurality of axial positions along thesteering column, each of said first and second mounting plates havingfirst surface means for engaging the vehicle and second surface meansfor defining a channel for receiving the steering column located on aside of said mounting plate opposite from said first surface means, eachof said mounting plates having slots located on opposite sides of saidchannel for receiving fasteners for connecting said mounting plate tothe vehicle, said slots extending transverse to the axis of the steeringcolumn when said first and second mounting plates are connected to thesteering column.
 8. A steering column support as set forth in claim 7wherein each of said first and second mounting plates includes gussetslocated on opposite sides of said channel.
 9. A steering column supportas set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said first and second mountingplates includes circular openings located on opposite sides of saidchannel for receiving fasteners to connect said mounting plates to thevehicle.
 10. A steering column support as set forth in claim 9 whereinsaid openings are offset axially from said slots in each of said firstand second mounting plates.